Egypt is one of the world’s leading exporters of frozen strawberries. The fruit is harvested during the fresh season, from December to May, frozen at the peak of ripeness and shipped year-round from frozen stock.
What IQF means
IQF stands for individually quick frozen. Each berry is frozen separately in a cold air stream, so the fruit stays free-flowing instead of forming a solid block. That makes it easy to portion — essential for retail bags, smoothie bars and bakeries.
Grades
| Grade | Description | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Grade A | Whole, well-shaped, uniform colour and size | Retail bags, premium foodservice |
| Grade B | Some irregular shape or colour variation | Foodservice, bakery, dairy |
| Industrial | Mixed sizes and shapes | Jam, juice, purée, yoghurt |
The exact limits — size range, colour, defects, stems and calyx — are agreed in the buyer’s specification.
Sizes and cuts
- Whole berries, typically graded 15–35 mm, with sub-ranges on request.
- Cut strawberries — halves, slices or dice — for yoghurt, bakery and ready meals.
Quality parameters to specify
- Colour — uniform red, limited white shoulders.
- Brix range.
- Foreign-material limits and detection (e.g. metal detection).
- Clusters — maximum percentage of stuck berries.
- Ice crystals — a sign of temperature fluctuation.
- Microbiological criteria and pesticide residues according to your market.
Packing formats
- 10 kg export carton with liner — for foodservice and industry.
- 25 kg bulk bag inside master cartons — for processors.
- Retail bags — consumer packs in your brand.
The frozen chain
Frozen strawberries must be stored and shipped at −18 °C or colder, without interruptions. Each temperature rise causes ice crystals to grow, damaging texture and causing clumping. Every pack carries the production lot and date for traceability.
Fresh and frozen from one origin
Buyers who also sell fresh strawberries can source both from the same supplier, which simplifies audits and documentation. Frozen strawberries also combine well with frozen mango in one frozen container.
Choose the grade by use: Grade A for the consumer’s eye, Grade B for the kitchen, industrial for the mixer.
See specifications on our IQF frozen strawberries page.
Frequently asked questions
What does IQF mean?
Individually quick frozen: each berry is frozen separately, so the product stays free-flowing.
What is the difference between grade A and grade B?
Grade A is whole, uniform fruit for retail; grade B allows some variation in shape and colour for foodservice and bakery.
Are frozen strawberries available all year?
Yes. The fruit is frozen during the fresh season and shipped year-round from frozen stock.
What packing formats are available?
10 kg cartons, 25 kg bulk bags and retail bags in your brand.